Cheyenne Faircloth
Handspun Literary Agency
My Manuscript Wish List®
Hello! My name is Cheyenne (she/her). I’m most interested in manuscripts from historically excluded communities, i.e. queer, BIPOC, AAPI, neurodivergent, and disabled voices.
My interests include romantasy, cozy fantasy, speculative fiction, Southern Gothic stories with speculative elements, horror, folkloric and atmospheric elements; young adult and adult fantasies with political elements and well-grounded world building; feminist retellings of mythology; and new takes on popular creatures of myth.
I am not currently accepting middle grade, picture books, contemporary YA, or nonfiction.
Fantasy and Speculative Fiction (both YA and Adult)
- Romantasy (Fantasy stories that center a romantic relationship/a sweeping romance at the center of an epic fantasy? Sign me up!)
- Cozy fantasy
- Queer!!!
- Romantic sub plot always a plus!
- Southern Gothic (think Summer Sons By Lee Mandelo, or a darker version of The Raven Cycle. I would really love something set in the American South (or the equivalent of that), a swampy and haunting and magical/speculative story).
- Well-grounded magic systems and/or world building (Xiran Jay Zhao, Holly Black, Leigh Bardugo, Martha Wells, Hannah Kaner, T. Kingfisher, M. L. Wang).
- Writing that feels folkloric/atmospheric (Naomi Novik, Katherine Arden, Emily Tesh, Heather Fawcett).
- Dark/gothic fantasies with romantic elements (Ava Reid, S.T. Gibson).
- Monster romance (repeated under “romance”).
- Stories that pull inspiration from non-western mythology.
- Fresh takes on mermaids, vampires, werewolves (not just western interpretations/myths, and preferably through a queer lens).
- Stories firmly rooted in place/culture.
- Feminist retellings of myth.
- Stories that challenge sexuality/gender norms (this goes for all genres and age groups).
- Polyamorous relationships (PLEASE!!)
Horror (open to adult or YA)
- Really voicey, the intensity of the voice should add to the horror element.
- exploring family dynamics, and/or an emotional core at the center of the story, ie. The Haunting of Hill House and Bly Manor
- Dark academia (something like Babel by R. F. Kuang)–would LOVE to have a magical school set in the South, or set outside of America entirely, pulling inspiration/ influence from a specific culture.
- Characters with complicated relationships with religion (think Hell Followed With Us by Andrew Jospeh White).
- stories with a deeper messages, engaging with current issues (racism, sexism, misogyny, etc.)
Fun facts about me:
- One of my favorite songs is “Malhari” from Bajirao Mastani. You can’t listen to this song and not dance.
- My first jobs as an editor were on Ao3, and I have a huge respect (and love) for fan-fiction writers.
Submission Guidelines
Please follow us on Instagram (@handspunlit) for our updated submission schedule for 2025
Please fill out this form on Query Manager:
https://querymanager.com/query/HandspunLit
Vital Info
Favorite sub-genres:
Cozy Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Fantasy Romance, Folklore, Gothic Fantasy, Gothic Horror, Historical Fantasy, Magical Realism, Speculative Fiction, Urban Fantasy, dark academia, dark fantasy, gothic romance, horror
I’d like the next…
- The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna. A DELIGHTFUL romance that does cozy fantasy so, so right!
- You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi. Extremely picky about women’s fiction and rom coms, but THIS book? Whew. If souls could be made into books, I think mine would look like this. Love how Emezi doesn’t shy away from the exploration of grief, and I adore how healthy the main relationship in this book is (always looking for an Alim and Feyi in the query box).
- Starling House by Alix E. Harrow. I’m BEGGING for this.
- The Jasad Heir by Sara Hashem. THIS is the enemies to lovers romance readers deserve. THIS is the slow burn romance I want to read!!
- The Sword of Kaigen by M. L. Wang. I am blown away by the world building in this book, and I really love the scientific explanation/exploration of the magic. Such an epic and sprawling world, and I LOVE how political it is.
- Blood Over Bright Haven by M. L. Wang. I’m, um, a huge Wang fan.
- Evocation by S. T. Gibson. Loved the poly relationship in this, and the magic light academia vibes. Adored!
- When the Moon Hatched by Sarah. A. Parker. And grandiose romantasy.
- Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao: I love the politics, the poly relationship, how the narrative centers the rage of historically marginalized peoples, and the disassembling of a patriarchal society.
- A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid: so atmospheric and feminist and folkloric. LOVED.
- Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo: found family, gritty setting, voice-y writing, heist story, all my favorites!
- The Folk of the Air series by Holly Black: I would KILL for a fresh take on faeries/fae/popular creature of myth (ie mermaids/vampires/werewolves), or something done in this whimsical, haunting way.
- Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries: LOVED LOVED LOVED.
- Paladin’s Grace by T. Kingfisher
- The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo. If you’re going to send historical fantasy, send me THIS.
- Winter’s Orbit by Everina Maxell. I’m VERY picky about sci-fi, but I adored this book so much.
- When Among Crows by Veronica Roth. Just *chef’s kiss*.
- Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell. This is what I mean when I say I want a monster romance. This was everything.
- Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brennan. This was a riot of fun and equally epic. A really fresh and daring take on epic fantasy.
- Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo.
- Immortal Dark by Tigest Girma. I couldn’t put this one down. The gritty narrative, the dark academia vibes–perfection.
My favorites include…
- Blue Eye Samurai
- Castlevania: Nocturne
- Arcane: League of Legends
